Recently former House Majority Leader Dick Armey has taken some shots at the religious right (e.g., calling Dr. James Dobson a “bully”). In a statement published yesterday, Armey elaborates on his concern with power-hungry “religious” activists.”
In this passage, Armey explains one of the problems he has with religious movements becoming politically entangled:
Freedom works. Freedom is a gift from God Almighty, and we have a responsibility to protect it. Christians face a temptation to power when we are fortunate enough to have a majority of support in Congress. But government can never advance a faith that is freely given, and it is corrosive to even try. Just look at Europe, where decades of nanny-state activism– including taxpayer support for churches and for religious political parties– have severely eroded the faith. In America today, too many of our Christian leaders fail to recognize the temptation to power and the danger it holds for our society and our faith.
I don’t share many policy positions with Mr. Armey, but I do agree with what he says here.
I wonder if after seeing this, coupled with the revelations in David Kuo’s new book, it might finally dawn on some rightists that perhaps a church/government alliance isn’t best for our society. One can hope.